#1: The integration of the Western and Eastern cultures is a hot topic at this point in the course. One must wonder: When two distinctly different cultures intermix, what new ideas will be produced? Culture is one of those all encompassing words, so answering that is impossible. but I can reveal what happens to the architecture! Looking to your left you will see the Grand Hotel located by the bay in Yokohama.Light Googling revealed that no one is exactly sure who's responsible for this monster's construction, but it's commonly attributed to R.P. Bridgens. Sound American? He is American. The hotel's design reflects this. Overall, the arched windows and pointed roofs suggest a Victorian-esque design. The wrap around deck looks indefinitely Western, common in expansionist architecture. Frankly, the only Japanese aspect is the straw fence. And I don't even think that fence is a part of the hotel. Compare this to the bathhouses of the Japanese. They're built low among the trees, directly by the water. Their stone foundations literally shade them right into their natural environments. This building (design bias aside) sticks out like a sore thumb. It's structured kind of like this: Here is water. Now here is street. Then the hotel goes here. No tree touching. It lacks the organic qualities of the early Japanese architecture.
#2: Oh, wow. Just look at that one guy on the left. So far I haven't been able to look at him without laughing - he has no clue what is going on with his life. But, truthfully, the differences between shots of women and men are what's really interesting here. After looking through all of the Globetrotters' images of women, this picture really stands out. The geisha's look thoughtful and focused. So stoic, in fact, that they almost come off as melancholic.
These guys? They're not focused. Especially that guy on the left. There's no make-up, or weave in their hands - they're just hanging out! If a Japanese woman is ever depicted with an instrument they are holding it delicately. The man of the far right looks like he's trying to play Iron Maiden songs. Why is this distinction so clear? Better yet, is this distinction to be found in western cultures as well? I would say yes, it is. The women are to look beautiful and soft, while the guys... well... they have a lot of fun. It's difficult to call the ball and say that this idea was the intension of the photograph. Perhaps they were trying to make the Japanese culture more attractive to the fun loving men of the states. Either or, the dichotomy is worth discussing nonetheless.
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I liked how you noticed and touched upon the contrasting early vs. much later Japanese architecture in the first picture. Also, I did the same picture you did second (so good taste! bonus points). I like how you looked in contrast to the pictures of women. I looked at it more as just the one picture where people weren't working and it was them in their most natural and believable situation. I was wondering if you noticed what appears to be a swastika on the kid in the center's head-wrap? If you did/didn't, do you have any insight on it? Because I was incredibly confused as to why it was there, or if I was imagining it.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you went into detail about the building and the model it really help to clarify things. I also liked your comparison of the Japanese men to Japanese women in the workmen party.
ReplyDeleteI like the second image and your analysis. They look enjoying the party (I feel as if they were drunk). The photographer may want to show the funny aspect of Japan, not only elegant and calm ones.
ReplyDeleteI definitely have to agree with you on the first analysis, it would have been quite interesting to see the first western style buildings built among the Japanese ones, as they were so obviously different.
ReplyDeleteI also really liked your second analysis. Although for me this picture still has the staged quality of the other pictures in this album, it definitely has a different atmosphere altogether. The sense of fun going on really is quite refreshing, and also really interesting, as it shows the preferences of representations of men and women.